Passengers at seaports and major international airports across the country can expect delays and disruptions due to a customs and immigration staff strike.
The two-hour action from 9am on Wednesday will hit international airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin, as well as seaports.
The Community and Public Sector Union strike will coincide with the launch of the Australian Border Force, a single frontline operational border agency within the immigration department.
According to the ABC, Terry Price from the Australian Border Force said it was prepared for the strike and had measures in place to prevent delays.
“We’re not expecting too many delays. There may be some inconvenience,” he said.
“We do ask that passengers do get to the airport a bit earlier if they’re departing, and once they’ve checked in proceed immediately through Customs processing.
“We think our contingency arrangements will assist to get everybody through both inbound and outbound.”
The union also told the ABC that the Government had a bargaining policy that put workers at a disadvantage and result in them suffering losses ofup to $8000 a year in allowances.
CPSU secretary Nadine Flood said the strike action would not threaten security, per the ABC.
“Our members take their work very seriously. This action will not affect safety of life at sea, on land, national security or counter-terrorism operations,” she said.
In a joint statement, Customs and the Department of Immigration said it had negotiated to develop an enterprise agreement that provided the best possible outcome in a “challenging operational and fiscal environment”.
